Process of convebtikta hydrocarbons



C. P. DUBBS.

PROCESS 0F CONVERTING HYDBOCARBONS.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19|1919.

C. P. DUBBS.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

Parser erica.

CARBON P. D'BBS,

OF WILM'ETTE,

l'LLINOISL PROCESS 0F CONVERTNG HYDROCARBONS.

Application lefl March 19, 1919.

To all Lo/tom it' may concern Be it known that lf, Censos' P. Dones, a citizen oi the United States, residing in the city of Wilniette, county of Cook, and State oit Illinois, have invented certain neiv and useitul Improvements in Processes of Converting Hydrocarbons, of which the iiolloivino' is a specilication.

This invention relates to improvements in processes of converting hydrocarbons and refers more particularly to an improved form oi: crackingn process oi' the continuous type. Among` the salient objects of the invention are to provide a process in Which the oil is contiiuiously fied through the cracking :cone and thence through the vapor zone, and a portion ot the generated vapors condensed and returned to the inlet side of 'the cracking; zone for further treatment; to provide a process of the character above referred to in which the carbon containing, residue is continuously removed from the cracking Zone while the reflux condensate is returned to the cracking Zone for further treatment substantially tree from carbon; to provide a process which permits of the apparatus being4 operated tor an extended period Without the necessity of cleaning` and in which that part oit the system containing the precipitated carbon, is free from subjection to any excessive heat; to provide a, process in which the reflux condensate is continuously removed from the reiluxing` condensingv apparatus and returned to the inlet side of the system; to provide a process in which the vapors not initially condensed are finally caused to pass through a single passage for a secondary condensing action and in general to provide an improved proc- .ess and also a novel apparatus oi the character referred to.

The claims ol the present invention are directed more particularly to the process, although it is to be understood that the apparatus itself is novel.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional side view.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view.

Describing the apparatus7 A and A1 are the furnaces. stack.

B are the crackingtubes. C are the vaporizingl tubes. l) are the vapor tubes connected with the vaporizing tubes C. E are the slanting,` portions ot the vapor tubes. F

is the drainage line from the vapor tubes to Specification of Letters Patent.

A2 the flue tunnel, A3 theV Patented oct. 4,1921.

Serial No. 283,673,

the B tubes situated in the furnace A, connected by line F1 into line J1 and on line F1 is valve H5. Gr is the manifold connecting with the slanting vapor tubes E and also connecting with aerial condenser G1 which latter conne-cts With vapor line G2 to Water cooled condenser G3 and on which is valve H. il is a standard high pressure liquid pump connected with any source of supply not shown. J1 is the discharge from said pump into coils B. K is the residuum line connected with the l0 tube and positioned in it pressure valve H1. H2, H3, H4 are try cocks.

Describingr the operation of the process, the material to be treated is dravvn from any suitable source b v means oli the pump .l and discharge therefrom through line J1 into and through tubes B and during the time they are passingthrough said tubes, they are subjected to sufficient heat to cause the desired amount oi cracking. Said oil is then passed into the tubes C which are only partially filled with the oil and as the oil passes through these tubes, there is a liberation of vapors from same and which vapors pass up through the vapor tubes D, E and into header G and through aerial condenser G1, through line G2, through Water condenser GB and discharged through pressure regulating valve H. The portion ot vapors condensed While passing through vapor lilies E, manifold Gr and aerial condenser G1 are automatically drained back through these lines into drainage line F and 'from there through line F1 enter into line J1 and bacl into the heating tubes B. The residue lett in the coils C is drawn off through line K through pressure regulatingl valve .H1 to any suitable glace. Pressure is maintained on vthe entire apparatus and is regulated by the valve H.

A light iire may be maintained under the tubes C as shown in the drawings or said tubes may be heavily insulated with cel-o-cel insulating material or any other well known insulating material to prevent loss of heat by radiation and thereby dispense with the lire under the tubes C. The level of the liquid in the tubes C is ascertained by trycoclrs H2, H3, lL4 and the level controlled by valve H1. The per cent, of vapors gen* erated from the oil as it passes through the tubes C Will depend on the amount of heat acquired by said oil While passing` through the 4l coils.

llO

I do not wish to confine myself to the above described operation except as to illustrate the principal involved and which principal may be applicable in various arranged ap iaratus.

For instance, the redux distillates may be returned to the heating coils B directly or indirectly, part of them direct and part of them indirect. For instance, instead of returning'the reflux condensate dire-ct to the tubes marked B by means ot line F1, the same may be discharged into a. tank marked L through line L1 by opening the valve H which otherwise would remain closed and closing the valve H5 on line F l or part of the condensate may be returned directly back to the tubes B through line F1 by Iregulating the opening of valve H5 and the rest discharged to tank L through line L1 Vby regulating the opening of valve H.

Tank L may be maintained under pressure or not and it may contain the raw material that is being treated or .contain wholly the reflux distillate and from this tank the contents ot' same are fed to the tubes B through line M into pump J and from there discharged into line J1.

It will be notedthat the reflux condensate in Vall cases is trapped ott from the vapor lines in such manner as to prevent their returning direct to the vaporizing tubes C.

An illustrative run of the described apparatus, in accordance with my process, is as follows:

Gas oil from mid continent crude Oil, such as Kansas, or Oklahoma, oils of 32 to 36 Baume gravity is taken and continuously supplied to the pump J and thence to the 4C inch coils B which are subjected to a temperature ot 7500 to 860 F. The heated ,y oil then passes to the l() inch coils C which are maintained about halt full of oil and wherein vaporization takes place. The residue is constantly drawn off through the pipe K to a suitable storage. The vapors pass up through the lines D to the pipe E `into the manifold G and from thence into the aerial condenser G where the heavier distillates are condensed and the lighter distillates pass on to the water cooled condenser G3. The reflux condensation is diverted and returned to the inlet side of the tubes B, either directly through the lines F,

` F or indirectly through the line F, tank L and line. M to the pump. A pressure of Vappro.,\imately 100 lbs. to the square inch 1s maintained on the oil during treatment which is caused by the pressure of the generated vapors. This pressure is regulated by the valve H. y

The gravity of the distillate discharge from the water cooled condenser is about 52 to 56 Baume and in quantity is approximately somewhat more than half of the gas oil subjected to treatment.

I claim as my invention:

l. A process ot converting relatively heavy into lighter hydrocarbons` consisting in passing a stream ot oil through a Zone where the oil is heated to a cracking tem perature but without substantial vaporization, passed thence to and through a '/,one where vaporization takes place. removing the vapors, subjecting them to reflux condensation` returning reilux condensate l'or further cracking, removing the residue, after said vaporization, y.trom the system without permitting intcrmngling ot any substantial portion thereof with the oil in the heating Zone and maintaining a pressure upon the material during distillation.

A process of converting heavy into lighter hydrocarbons consisting in passing in an ad v'ancing direction a stream oi oil through a Zone where the oil is heated to the cracking temperature but substantial vaporization prevented and thence to and through a zone where vaporization takes place, removing the vapors and condensing them, returning a portion ot the condensates to the heating zone tor :further treatment, removing the residue after said vapor-ization from the system without permitting contact or intermingling ot any substantial portion thereof with the oil in the heating zone and maintaining a vapor pressure upon the material under treatment during distillation and condensation.

2l. A process ol converting heavy into lighter hydrocarbons consisting in passing in an advancing direction a stream oi" oil through a heating zone where the oil is heated to the cracking temperature but substantial vaporization prevented and thence to an enlarged chamber where vaporization takes place, removing the vapors troni said chamber and condensing them and returning a portion ot the condensatcs to the heating Zone tor further treatment, withdrawing substantially continuously the residue trom said chamber and discharging the same entirely apart from the feed ot oil to the heating Zone and maintaining a vapor pressure upon the material under treatment during distillation and condensation.

A process ot converting heavy into lighter hydrocarbons consisting in passing in au advancing direction a continuous stream ot oil through a heating Zone where the oil is heated to the cracking temperature but substantial v: porization prevented and thence to a chamber where vaporizatiou takes place.` discharging from the chamber substantially continuously a quantity ot the residue proportional to the amount ot oil supplied to the heating Zone and said 'aporization. condensing the vapors and returning a portion ot the condensates to the stream ot oil 'tor ire-treatment in the heating zoneand maintaining a vapor pressure upon wrapping of irregular bodies. Also the invention4 is not limited to any particular cycle of operations. Further the mechanical details herein described may be modified in various ways, and instead of a flexible disk any other soft and extensible body having a dilatable aperture therein may be used. ln all cases, however, a pair of indpendently and conjointly movable plungers adapted to grip the chocolate and carry it through the different stages in the wrapping operation are employed.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In machines 'for wrapping sweetmeats and like bodies with a thin enveloping medium, the combination comprising a sheet of flexible material having an orifice therein, upper and lower plungers between which the body and its enveloping medium are carried through the said orifice, grippers situated above the flexible material for holding the body and permitting it to be released by the plunger-s, slides for closing the ends of the envelopingmedium against the underside of the body, and means for imparting movements to the said parts in their proper sequence, substantially as described.

2. In machines for wrapping sweetmeats and like 'bodies with a thin enveloping medium, the combination comprising a sheet of fieXible material having an orifice therein, upper and lower plungers between which the body and its enveloping medium are carried through the said orifice,` grippers situated above the flexible material 'for holding the body and permitting it to be released by the plungers, slides for closing the ends of the enveloping medium against the underside of the body, and means whereby after the completion of the wrapping operation the plungers are caused to seize the body and convey it to a discharge position, substantially as described.

3. In machines for wrapping sweetmeats and like bodies with a thin envelopingT medium, the combination comprising a sheet of flexible material having an orifice therein, upper and lower plungers between which the body and its envelpoing medium are carried through the said orifice, grippers situ ated above the flexible material for holding the body and permitting it to be released by the plungers, slides for closing the ends of the enveloping medium against the under side of the body, means whereby after the completion of the wrapping operation the plungers are caused to seize the body and convey it to a discharge position, and means actuated by the plungers for ejecting the body from the plungers, substantially as described.

t. In machines for wrapping sweetmeats and the like with a thin enveloping medium, the combination comprising a sheet of ilexible material having an orifice therein, a rotary feed table carrying the body beneath the said orifice, means for cutting off and feeding en to the body a piece of the enveloping medium, upper and lower plungers between which the body and its enveloping medium can be seized and carried through the said orifice, grippers situated above the flexible material for holding the body and permitting it to be released by the plungers, slides for closing the enveloping medium against the underside of the body, means for imparting movements to the said parts in their proper sequence, means whereby the plungers are caused to again seize the body and its enveloping medium after the action of the slides and convey it to a discharge position, and means actuated by the plungers for ejecting the body from the plungers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

HENRY HACKETT. ARTHUR SMITH. CHRISTUPHER SOUTHALL. 

